Barcelona: A Summer to Remember Past Review
By Ilse D (Business Administration, Spanish, Worcester State College) for
CISabroad (Center for International Studies): Intern in Barcelona
YES! I spent a semester in Valencia, Spain in 2009 and was exposed to an entirely new culture with so much to explore. Barcelona offered the same type of cultural exposure and it increased my desire to travel and learn about other cultures. In the future, I will take advantage of any and all opportunities I have to travel.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Because I was an intern, there was no grading system or workload. The differences I saw were in the workplace. There is a much different work ethic in Spain than in the U.S and it was interesting to see all the differences. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
I felt like one of the strongest things about the program was their support services. I had to switch internship placements and they were very helpful throughout the whole process and quick at answering emails. One weakness is that they could have planned more group activities so that everyone in the program could be more involved. It was hard for some to get involved with other program participants. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
Love Spanish food!! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The cultural events that were offered through the program were very enjoyable, but I wish there had been more. The city itself had a lot to offer and they provided information about what was going on. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
There was a big concern with pickpocketers in Barcelona. Our program did a good job of warning us of the high-risk areas and giving us tips on how to avoid being put in those situations. The healthcare was scary - I had to go to the hospital for a sore throat and was surprised at how quickly they were going to give me an IV after not even checking my symptoms very much. They were, however, very helpful when it came to my needs. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
| If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition? |
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| Language acquisition improvement? |
I spoke Spanish every day in my internship environment. I was also encouraged to speak Spanish during my free time with others, as well as in the two-week intensive Spanish classes that I took. |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
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A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | GO! Any study abroad program is worth the time, effort and money. It is the experience of a lifetime and if you are lucky enough to have the opportunity, take it! Any student would benefit from the Intern in Barcelona program through CIS, and I encourage all to do so!! |
